Track for tractors



R. MAYNE TRACK FOR TRACTORS Filed Aug.

bars, and to throughout the upper reach of Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENT oFFlcE TRACK FOR TRACTORS Robert iMayne, Akron,

B. F. Goodrich C Ohio, asslgnor to The New York, N. Y., a

corporation oi' New York Application August 4, 1934, Serial No. 738,398

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an endless belt-like track for use on tractors or other vehicles of the self-laying track type.

The principal objects of. the invention are to provide resistance to wear, to provide flexibility n the direction of movement, and to provide resistance to lateral flexing and to accomplish guiding of the track about the driving sprocket and throughout an unsupported reach of the track by a single mea Other'objects are to reduce sion, and to increase traction and improve cushioning of the track. Other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of the track and its driving sprockets and guide pulleys.

Fig. 2 is a similar and showing only a sprocket, a portion of and shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the preferred form of the belt.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modiiled form of the device.

Referring to the drawing, the belt comprises a pair of spaced vulcanized rubber tread bands III, I0', preferably but not necessarily continuous, which are each reinforced by laterally spaced parallel strands of wire cable II. 'Ihis provides a smooth running tread which increases traction, especially on smooth pavements, reduces noise and vibration, and, by the enclosure of the cables, preve'nts corrosion thereof. All of the strands of cable are attached at spaced intervals to metal cross bars I2, I2 having suitable notches formed in their faces for receiving and spacing the cable. Bars I2, I2 may be heid in clamping relation by bolts I l passing therethrough, but preferably are attached to the cables by adhesion between the metal cables and bars due to the rubber therebetween.

,In order to provide replaceable wear surfaces where the driving sprocket engages the cross provide a single means for preventing lateral misalignment of the chain where it passes over the driving sprocket as well as the track, each cross bar is provided with a removable wear member Il, fastened thereto by the bolts Il. and these wear members are provided with integral noise and corroview drawn to a larger scale part of the beltfand drive the belt being broken away guide plates I5 extending therefrom so as to engage each other in intercalated sliding relation. Where the drive wheel comprises a single sprocket, the sprocket teeth enter between pairs of guide plates I 5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In 5 the latter figure the numeral I8 designates the sprocket, which is flanked by coaxialiy mounted guide pulleys I1, I1. A groove I8 is provided between each guide pulley and the sprocket for receiving and guiding the guide plates Il. 'I'he 10 pulleys I1, I'I', and the sprocket I6 are held together by bolts I9.

In some installations it is desirable to employ a pair of driving sprockets laterally spaced apart on the same shaft.l Where this is done. the wear members I4 may be constructed as shown in Fig. 5, where the guide plates are located between the sprockets.

In use the belt not only surrounds a sprocket I6 and its pulleys I1, I1. but a supporting pulley 20 and guide pulleys 2|, 22, 23, 2i, and 25, as shown in Fig. l. As the guide plates I 5 extend past each other a considerable distance in sliding engagement, they prevent undue lateral flexing of the belt between guide pulleys, especially when the tractor is travelling on sloping ground, and the constant engagement of the plates I5 in the space I8 between the pulleys I1, I'I, prevents the belt from climbing the sprocket.

The rubber forming the tread bands III, I0', is adhered to the cables by vulcanization and for this purpose the cables may be cleaned and electro-plated or otherwise coated with rubber be coated with a heat plastic 35 rubber isomer and their interstices filled with rubber to insulate the wires from each other and protect them from abrasion. The surfaces of the cross-bars I2, I2' may be treated in similar manner to make them rubber-adherent and rub- 40 ber may be applied between the cross bars and the cables to secure the bars to the cables. The rubber tread members Iii, I 0' are then built up about the cables and their assembled cross bars. and the rubber vulcanized under heat and pres- 45 sure, preferably by confining it in a mold. After vulcanization of the belt, the wear members Il are fastened to the cross bars. Where it is desired to form the tread members I0, I8' with non-skid designs, this may be done by suitably shaping the mold.

I claim:

1. A self-laying track comprising parallel strands of wire cable, a plurality of metal cross` bars fixed to the cables at regular intervals and 55 

